Mamie Lou Welch

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Friona Cemetery. Arrangements are by Hereford Heritage Funeral Home of Hereford.

Mamie was born Sept. 15, 1927, in Hereford to Ralph and Louisa Wilson. As a young girl, she attended the three-teacher country school in Rhea. In 1941, she and her parents moved six miles west of Friona. She began attending Friona Schools as a seventh-grader when she met Louis, the love of her life.

After graduating from high school, Mamie Lou attended Texas Tech University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics in 1950. During college, she was active in the Tri Delta sorority. It was during this time she married Louis Leland Welch of Friona ,who also attended Texas Tech University. The two redheads were married on Aug. 3, 1947.

In 1950, Mamie Lou and Louis began farming. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was very active as a Girl Scout leader for 15 years and the first president of the Friona Progressive Study Club. She was a member of Sixth Street Church of Christ, where she taught Sunday school for many years. She and Louis were leaders in Brother’s Keepers groups at church and coordinators of the bus ministry and vacation Bible school.

Mamie was known for being an excellent cook. She was an avid seamstress and loved gardening. She was a great bridge player; she and Louis were members of Friona’s longest running bridge club. But most of all, she knew how to have fun with her grandchildren, who absolutely loved and adored her.

Her legacy will continue because of the love and joy she shared with others. Mamie Lou was blessed to have two dear, dedicated and loving caregivers, Dianna Cooper and Pat Dawson. Her ultimate caregiver was her beloved husband of 64 years. She lived a beautiful life and was an excellent example to others and was loved by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, David Craig Welch.